Newbie question about this Saturday at ToW lounge...

[Douglas Clark]

Taking our first DVC vacation at SSR this weekend (although we are WDW veterans, finally wised up to advantages of DVC). It's our daughter's 6th bday so doing tea at GF on Saturday afternoon with cousins that live nearby. Would love for all the kids to see the fireworks from ToW... Will a Saturday night be busy? What time do the doors open for Non-BLT guests? I've heard that it's first come, first served, w/ no reservations. Any tips or things to do or look out for? It will be me , DS and DD, plus two cousins and their two parents (7 total, so I know DS and I will have to use our DVC cards to get whole group in, if possible)

Thanks, and thanks for the board(s) in general.. very helpful.


DC

 

[DVC4US]

All guests that you take up to TOTWL must be staying on your reservation. You say that they live nearby - so not sure if they are staying with you or just joining you for the day.

From the DVC Member website:
Top of the World Lounge
Discover a soothing space to unwind at Top of the World Lounge, located at Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort. One of the vacation kingdom’s most exclusive spaces, this lounge is available only to Members and those in their traveling party who are staying on that Member's reservation. It’s an ideal place to savor light bites and refreshing cocktails—and unforgettable views.

Disney Vacation Club Members staying at any Disney-owned-and-operated hotel at Walt Disney World Resort (whether they booked with Vacation Points or cash) may enjoy access to one of the vacation kingdom's most exclusive spaces: Top of the World Lounge atop Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort through December 29, 2016.

Blockout dates apply for Top of the World Lounge, including but not limited to: July 3, 2016; July 4, 2016; December 30, 2016; December 31, 2016. Current operating hours are 6:00 PM to midnight.

Accessing the Lounge

This perk is available exclusively to Members. People who are in that Member’s traveling party and staying on that Member’s reservation are also eligible to visit Top of the World Lounge. At least one Member in the traveling party must accompany the group and present his or her current MagicBand or Key to the World card with a Disney Vacation Club Membership notation in order to gain admission to the lounge and observation deck. If the Member's MagicBand or Key to the World card doesn't display a Membership notation, a Disney Vacation Club Membership Card is also required to verify Membership.

 

[OriolesFan]

My family and I will be staying at Bay Lake Tower in a few weeks. We are DVC members and would like to access the lounge. Do we need to make reservations for this? Is there limited availability? Any information will be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[com_op_2000]

...Do we need to make reservations for this? Is there limited availability?...

Do we need to make reservations for this? No, first-come-first-served.
Is there limited availability? Yes, the lounge is kind of small but there is a big outside patio for fireworks watching.

 

[Douglas Clark]

All guests that you take up to TOTWL must be staying on your reservation.

We found that the 2 hostesses weren't at all interested in checking our ID's or validating our DVC membership. I just showed DS's card on her phone and they let all 8 of us (5 adults and 3 kids under7yo) up to the top. Very nice lounge and big outdoor patio with a great view of the Castle and Space Mountain. It was a Saturday at about 7pm and the lounge and deck was pretty deserted. Fireworks weren't going to be until 10:30 and the kids weren't' going to make it that long, so it was just a check out visit. I'm sure we will be back.

 

[DVC4US]

We found that the 2 hostesses weren't at all interested in checking our ID's or validating our DVC membership. I just showed DS's card on her phone and they let all 8 of us (5 adults and 3 kids under7yo) up to the top. Very nice lounge and big outdoor patio with a great view of the Castle and Space Mountain. It was a Saturday at about 7pm and the lounge and deck was pretty deserted. Fireworks weren't going to be until 10:30 and the kids weren't' going to make it that long, so it was just a check out visit. I'm sure we will be back.

While this might have worked for you, it is not the policy set forth by DVC. Every time I have been there, not only did they check my DVC card but they also scanned my MB and checked the number of people I have on my reservation compared to the number of people with me. You asked, I answered with the policy stated by DVC.

This is one of my pet peeves with Disney and DVC. If you are going to go to the effort to set a policy and put it in writing - then enforce the policy. And we wonder why they keep taking away the perks?

 

[disneynutz]

Prior to MB's they refused to let DW in because she didn't have her member ID with her. I had mine but that wasn't enough. I don't think that access is being enforced like it once was. Especially since the lounge will close if they don't make enough sales.

Bill

 

[cedricandsophie]

We have brought people up who weren't staying at Disney. Only one of our member cards and one magic band was scanned. Wasn't trying to con the system but I just assumed if we were members we could bring guests. There's a lot of room in the deck. The inside bar area isn't huge and gets pretty loud at times with all the screaming kids.

 

[Deb & Bill]

The rules have been posted on this thread. You can choose to ignore them and attempt to get guests who are not staying with you on your reservation to the lounge. However, you might also be turned down.

 

[Perelandra]

Is this perk for direct members only or also for resale DVC members? #Post 4/4 problems

 

[disneynutz]

Is this perk for direct members only or also for resale DVC members? #Post 4/4 problems

You need a member ID to enter.

Bill

 

[supersnoop]

Is this perk for direct members only or also for resale DVC members? #Post 4/4 problems

Access is expected to be granted to all owners, but official statements have not been clear.

 

[disneynutz]

Access is expected to be granted to all owners, but official statements have not been clear.

I don't know if Disney will make an official statement. If you don't have a member ID now, you can't get in, seems pretty clear that they have set policy. If they intended to allow all access they would have made an announcement of what a wonderful perk DVC owners have.

Bill

 

[supersnoop]

I don't know if Disney will make an official statement. If you don't have a member ID now, you can't get in, seems pretty clear that they have set policy. If they intended to allow all access they would have made an announcement of what a wonderful perk DVC owners have.

Bill

I've yet to see any sort of confirmation or official statement that new resale members won't get an ID. In fact, I heard that they do get a digital card, which should be good enough to access the TOTWL.

 

[mustinjourney]

I'm a post 4/4 member and I've been told several times by CMs over the phone I will be allowed. They specifically mentioned that access to ToWL, pool hopping, and dvd rentals are included for all DVC members, regardless of how membership was purchased.

 

[ccbloom]

Top of the World Lounge atop Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort through December 29, 2016.

Is this something that is expected to be extended into 2017?

 

[Perelandra]

I'm a post 4/4 member and I've been told several times by CMs over the phone I will be allowed. They specifically mentioned that access to ToWL, pool hopping, and dvd rentals are included for all DVC members, regardless of how membership was purchased.

I just looked up an article from a broker with dvcresalemarket on April 4th and he mentioned that access to Top of the World Lounge, pool hopping, and DVD rental would all remain as benefits for resale buyers post 4/4

 

[disneynutz]

Good to know, sad that they don't post the info on the member website. Interesting that they mentioned DVD rentals when DVC is removing the DVD players from the rooms.

Bill

 

[Perelandra]

https://www.dvcresalemarket.com/blo...s-but-how-much-do-these-incidentals-matter-2/
Let me see if this works.

 

[DVC4US]

Is this something that is expected to be extended into 2017?

It's been extended every year since they opened TOTWL to all DVC members staying on property so I would assume so.